Laura E. Agnich
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Graduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Minors: Women’s Studies and Psychology
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Crime/ Deviance, Organizations
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
National Women’s Studies Association
Email: lagnich@vt.edu
Efua Akoma
Hometown: Grenada
Graduate Institution and Major: Georgia State University, Educational Psychology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Georgia State University, Psychology and African American Studies
Research Interests: Race and Mental Health, Identity Development in Tourism Dependent Countries, Independent and African Centered Schools, Issues related to people of African descent throughout the Diaspora, Social Inequality
Organization membership:
National Council for Black Studies
African Heritage Studies Association
Email: eakoma@vt.edu
Laura Boutwell
Hometown: Abingdon, VA
Graduate Institution and Major: Radford University, Social Work
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Hollins University, Sociology and Political Science
Minor: Women’s Studies
Research Interests: Social Inequality (specifically war-affected youth)
Email: boutwell@vt.edu
Shawn Braxton
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Interdisciplinary Studies
Minors: Africana Studies, Political Science, and Psychology
Research Interests: Community based research for social change, Inequality, Critical Race Theory, Law and Society
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
National Council for Black Studies
Southern Sociological Society
Email: shawnb@vt.edu
Heidi F. Browne
Hometown: Tecumseh, MI
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Marshall University, History
Minor: Anthropology
Research Interests: Crime/Deviance and Sexualities
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Alpha Kappa Delta
Email: brownehf@vt.edu
Carson Byrd
Hometown: Galax, VA
Graduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Mars Hill College, Sociology
Research Interests: Sociology of Higher Education, Social Inequality, College Environment Analysis, College Impact Analysis, Research Methods
Organization Memberships:
American Educational Researchers Association
American Sociological Association
Association for the Study of Higher Education
Email: byrdwc@vt.edu
Sean Coleman
Hometown: Gary, IN
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Clemson University, History
Minor: Sociology
Research Interests: Race, Crime and Deviance, Culture, Education
Organization Memberships:
Southern Sociological Society
American Sociological Association
Southern Association for Public Opinion Research
Email: scoleman@vt.edu
Patrick Delaney
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Communications and Sociology
Minor: Music
Research Interests: Sociology of Education and stratification
Email: padelane@vt.edu
Sinan Demirak
Hometown: Kayseri, Turkey
Graduate Institution and Major: Eastern Kentucky University, Criminal Justice
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Police Academy, Faculty of Security Services: Ankara, Turkey, Criminal Justice
Research Interests: Crime, Deviance and the Police
Organization Memberships:
American Society of Criminology
Email: sdemirak@vt.edu
Andrew A. Duncan
Hometown: Indian Valley, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Psychology and Sociology
Minor: Philosophy
Research Interests: International Development, Political Economy, Social Inequality, Public Sociology
Organization Memberships:
Southern Sociological Society
American Sociological Association
Email: pymander@vt.edu
Lawrence M. Eppard
Hometown: Sterling, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: George Mason University, History
Minors: Sociology
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Sociology of Education, LGBT Families, Family Sociology
Email: leppard@vt.edu
Susan B. Felker
Hometown: Floyd, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Barnard College (Columbia University), English with a creative writing concentration
Minors: French
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Race and Ethnicity, Stigma
Organization membership:
American Historical Association
American Sociological Association
Email: sfelker@vt.edu
Margaret E. Gaines
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Graduate Institutions and Major: Hollins University, Sociology/Economics; Case-Western Reserve University, Nonprofit Management
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Temple University, Sociology
Research Interests: Political Economy, Research Methods, Third Sector Research
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action
Email: gainesme@vt.edu
Gina M. Giuffrida
Hometown: Warrenton, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology and Psychology
Research Interests: Crime and Deviance, Dating, Marriage and Divorce
Email: ginamg@vt.edu
Brian Gresham
Hometown: Bluefield, WV
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Minor: Political Science
Research Interests: Political Violence/ Crime, Social Control, Social-Political Structure
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Email: brgresha@vt.edu
Rammy M. Haija
Hometown: Port Orchard, WA
Graduate Institution and Major: Harvard University, Government
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Colorado State University, Industrial Technology
Research Interests: Political Economy, Globalization, Political Sociology, Global Inequality
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Email: rhaija@vt.edu
Jill Harrison-Rexrode
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Graduate Institution and Major: Radford University, Communication
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Radford University, French
Research Interests: social capital and culture, globalization, diffusion of innovations, social change
Email: jrex@vt.edu
Elana Hassett
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Research Interests: Crime/Deviance
Organization Memberships:
Alpha Kappa Delta
Email: ehassett@vt.edu
Chiquita D. Howard-Bostic
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Graduate Institution and Major: State University of New York at Buffalo, Urban Management
Undergraduate Institution and Major: State University of New York at Buffalo, Social Science Interdisciplinary Studies
Minors: English
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Crime/Deviance, Women’s Studies, International Studies
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Sisters of the Academy
Email: chhoward@vt.edu
Stephanie M. Hunter
Hometown: Pfafftown, NC
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Appalachian State University, Sociology
Minors: Criminology and Social Control
Research Interests: Crime/Deviance, Social Inequality
Email: smhunter@vt.edu
Nicole James Lucas
Hometown: Wooster, Ohio
Graduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Oberlin College, double major Psychology and African American Studies
Research Interests: Health, Mental Health, Social Inequality
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
National Council for Black Studies
Omicron Delta Kappa
Alpha Epsilon Lambda
Email: njames@vt.edu
Katelynn L. Johnson
Hometown: Blacksburg, VA (formerly from Northern Minnesota)
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology and Psychology
Research Interests: Gender/Sexuality, Mental Health, Crime/Deviance, Education, Animals in Society
Organization memberships:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Virginia Social Science Association
Alpha Kappa Delta
Psi Chi
Email: katelynn@vt.edu
Lawrence Johnson
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Graduate Institution and Major: Northeastern Illinois University, Inner City Studies
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Iowa State University, Sociology and Psychology
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Black Leadership, Africana Studies
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Association of Black Sociologist
National Council of Black Studies
Email: lrjohnso@vt.edu
Meredith Katz
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Graduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Psychology
Minors: Africana Studies
Research Interests: Cultural Representations and Marketing, Urban Sociology, Race, Class, Gender Inequality
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Sociologists for Women in Society
Southern Sociological Society
Email: mekatz@vt.edu
Quenton L. Keatts
Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise
Research Interests: Sociology of Religion, Black Theology
Email: qkeatts@vt.edu
Njeri D. Kershaw
Hometown: Mt. Laurel, NJ
Undergraduate Institution and Major: UMass-Amherst, Sociology and Legal Studies
Minor: Criminal Justice
Research Interests: Crime/Deviance, Gender Inequality
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
American Society of Criminology
Southern Sociological Society
Society for the Study of Social Problems
Alpha Kappa Delta
Email: nkershaw@vt.edu
Tugrul Keskin
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Graduate Institution and Major: University of Istanbul and Sociology of Economics
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Istanbul and Business
Research Interests: Sociological Theories, Political Economy/Globalization, Sociology of Islam/Islamist Movements, Sociology of Work, Race, Ethnicity, Nationalism.
Organization memberships:
Social Theory Research Network-European Sociological Association
American Sociological Association
Central Eurasian Studies Society at Harvard University
Turkish Studies Association
Middle East Studies Association
Sociologist without Borders
American Academy of Religion
Southern Sociological Society
Email: tugrulk@vt.edu
Philip Latter
Hometown: Kildeer, IL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: UNC-Asheville, Creative Writing
Minor: Sociology
Research Interests: Social Stratification, Appalachia, Medical Sociology
Organization Memberships:
Radford University Cross Country/Track Assistant Coach
Email: pjlatter@vt.edu
John Paul “JP” Mason
Hometown: Boone, NC
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Minors: Psychology and Leadership
Research Interests: Social Movements, Conflict Resolution, In-Group/Out-Group Relations
Organization Memberships:
Alpha Kappa Delta
Email: masonjp@vt.edu
Kevin G. McDonald
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Andrews University, Psychology
Minor: Communication
Research Interest: Social Justice Mediation
Organization Memberships:
Association for Conflict Resolution
American Association for Affirmative Action
Email: mcdonalk@vt.edu
Sara M. McDonough
Hometown: Lorton, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: The College of William and Mary, Sociology
Research Interests: Multiracial Individuals and the development of identity, Immigration, Sociological Theory, Education
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Email: mcd@vt.edu
Steve McGlamery
Hometown: Savoy, IL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Illinois State University, Communications
Minors: English and Public Relations
Research Interests: Racial and Class Stratification/Inequality, Sociology of Religion, Sociology of Education
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Email: smmcgla@vt.edu
Michelle F. McLeese
Hometown: Houston, TX
Graduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Psychology and Sociology, Virginia Tech
Minor: Crime and Deviance
Research Interests: Health (specifically mental health), Inequality (especially income), Education, Crime/Deviance
Email: mmcleese@vt.edu
Roderick Q. Neal
Hometown: Bluefield, WV
Graduate Institution and Major: West Virginia Graduate College, Counseling: Marshall University, Psychology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Eastern Kentucky University, Sociology
Minor: Business
Research Interests: Crime and Deviance, Juvinile Delinquency, Social Inequality/ Poverty, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
American Psychological Association
American Counseling Association
American Federation of Coaches
West Virginia Teachers Association
Email: rneal@vt.edu
Robert Todd Purdue
Hometown: Blacksburg, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, History
Research Interests: Environmental Sociology, Agriculture, Masculinity, Global Political Economy
Organization Memberships:
Southern Sociological Society
Email: puredue21@vt.edu
Danielle Quirion
Hometown: Fairfax Station, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Commonwealth University, Sociology
Minor: Criminal Justice
Research Interests: Race, Ethnic, Class Inequalities
Email: ddquir07@vt.edu
Thomas N. Ratliff
Hometown: Paintsville, KY
Graduate Institution and Major: Marshall University, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Western Kentucky University, Philosophy and English
Minor: Writing
Research Interests: Social Psychology, social justice and inequality, collective action, sociology of culture, cognitive and social difference in interaction and engagement
Organization Memberships:
Alpha Kappa Delta
Honorary Member of the National Campaign for Tolerance
Email: tnr07@vt.edu
Virginia Rothwell
Hometown: Keysville, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Psychology
Minors: Sociology
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Crime/Deviance
Organization membership:
Southern Sociological Society
Email: vrothwell@vt.edu
Eleanor (Ellie) Smith
Hometown: Floyd, VA
Graduate Institution and Major: SUNY Stonybrook, Social Work and Liberal Studies
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Hunter College, Physical Education, Health and Recreation
Research Interests: Gender, Globalization, Hispanic population organizational memberships
Email: essmith@vt.edu
Amy Sorensen
Hometown: Wytheville, VA
Graduate Institutions and Major: East Tennessee State University, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: East Tennessee State University, Interdisciplinary Studies (Concentrations in Research and Multicultural Studies)
Minor: Sociology
Research Interests: Gender, Corporeality, Disability, Culture, Inequality
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
International Sociological Association
Society for the Study of Social Problems
Sociologists without Borders
Email: asorens@vt.edu
George Still
Hometown: Danville, VA
Graduate Institution and Major: Campbell University, Christian Education
Undergraduate Institute and Major: Campbell University, Religion & French
Research Interests: Poverty, and Social Justice Issues
Organization Memberships:
One Campaign to End World Poverty
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Email: grstill@vt.edu
Ashley M. Tomisek
Hometown: Woodbridge, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Minor: Women’s Studies
Research Interests: Social Inequality, Gender Relations, Gerontology
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Email: atomisek@vt.edu
Jeffrey (Jeff) G. Toussaint
Hometown: Chicago/Virginia Beach
Graduate Institution and Major: Old Dominion University, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Old Dominion University, Sociology
Research Interests: Race and Ethnicity, Education, and Social Inequality
Organization Memberships:
American Education Research Association
Southern Sociological Society
American Sociological Society
Email: jtoussai@vt.edu
Charles T. Walter
Hometown: Moundsville, WV
Graduate Institution and Major: West Virginia University, Applied Social Research
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Ohio University, Behavioral Studies
Minors: History
Research Interests: Mental Health and Organizations
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Email: ctwalter@vt.edu
Elizabeth Ward
Hometown: Manassas, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology (Crime/Deviance)
Minors: Philosophy
Research Interests: Crime and Deviance
Organization membership:
Southern Sociological Society
Email: eward1@vt.edu
Eileen T. Weigand
Hometown: Lebanon, NJ
Graduate Institution and Major: Appalachian State University, Sociology and Criminal Justice
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Rutgers University (New Brunswick), Psychology
Research Interests: Culture: Sociology and Art, Women and Work, Environmental Sociology
Organization Memberships:
Southern Sociological Society
American Sociological Association
NWSA
SEWSA
Email: 523@vt.edu
Travis F. Whalen
Hometown: Pottsville, PA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: The Pennsylvania State University, Crime, Law and Justice
Minor: Sociology
Research Interests: Deviance, Science and Technology, Social Networking, Labor Unions
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Email: twf115@vt.edu
Peg Wimmer
Hometown: Check, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Radford University, Anthropology
Minors: 18 graduate hours in Medical Anthropology, University of Kentucky
Research Interests: Medical Sociology, Rural Sociology, Deviance, Applied Sociology, Identity and Research Methods
Organization membership:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Appalachian Studies Association
Email: pwimmer@vt.edu
Gary Wood
Hometown: Front Royal, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Minor: UAP
Research Interests: Applied Sociology, Sociology of Performance, Social Inequality
Organization Memberships:
American Sociological Association
Southern Sociological Society
Sociological Association at Virginia Tech
Email: gwood.soc@vt.edu
Corey Wrenn
Hometown: Clifton Forge, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Political Science
Minors: Asian Area Studies, Sociology
Research Interests: Environmental sociology, power and activism, animals and socity
Email: cwrenn@vtti.vt.edu
Jennifer Wyse
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Old Dominion University, Criminal Justice
Minor: History
Research Interests: Africana Studies, Education and Inequality
Organization Memberships:
Southern Sociological Society
Email: jwyse@vt.edu
Laquana Young
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Graduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech, Sociology
Undergraduate Institution and Major: City University of New York, Lehman College
Minor: Education
Research Interests: Africana Studies, Social Inequality, Education
Organization Memberships:
Southern Sociological Society
National Council for Black Studies
American Sociological Association
Email: lmyoung@vt.edu